Week 4    Day 1

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Heaven Is NOT Idleness

A Memorable Relation about Use in Heaven

CL 207. After some time, I was looking towards the city of Athenaeum, of which something was said in a former Relation, and heard from there an unusual clamor. There was something of laughter in it, within this something of indignation, and in this somewhat of sadness; and yet the cry was not therefore discordant, but harmonious, because one quality was not accompanying but within another. In the spiritual world the variety and commingling of affections in sound are distinctly perceived. I asked from a distance, “What is the matter?” And they said:

“A messenger has come from the place where newcomers from the Christian world first appear, saying that he had heard, from three in that place, that in the world from which they came, they believed with others there that the blessed and happy after death would have entire rest from labors; and, as administrations, offices, and employments are labors, that they would have rest from these.”

[2] ...The elders, or wiser ones, were seated at the sides in the auditorium, the rest in the middle, and in front of them was a raised platform. To this the three strangers, with the messenger, were conducted by the younger men in formal procession through the middle of the auditorium. And when silence had been obtained, they were greeted by a certain elder there and asked:

“What news from Earth?”

They answered, “There are many new things. But tell us, please, on what subject?”

The elder replied, “What is the news from Earth about our world and about heaven?”

They answered, “When we first came into this world we heard that here and in heaven there are administrations, ministries, employment, business, studies in all kinds of learning, and wonderful works. And yet we have believed that after removal or transition from the natural to this spiritual world, we would come into eternal rest from labors; and what are employments but labors?”

[3] To this the elder replied, “By eternal rest from labors did you understand eternal idleness, in which you would continually sit and lie down, inhaling delights into your bosoms, and drinking in joys with the mouth?” The three strangers, smiling blandly, said that they had supposed something of the kind, and then it was answered them:

“What do joys and delights and the happiness from them in common with idleness? By idleness the mind collapses, and is not expanded, and a man is rendered dead, not enlivened. Suppose someone were sitting in complete idleness, hands down, eyes cast down or withdrawn, and suppose that at the same time he were surrounded by an atmosphere of gladness, would he not be overcome, head and body, with drowsiness? Would not the lively expansion of his face cease? And at length with fibers relaxed would he not nod and nod until he fell to the earth? What keeps the whole bodily system in expansion and tension but intentness of mind? And where does intentness of mind come from but from administrations and work, when done with enjoyment? Let me, therefore, tell you some news from heaven: there are administrations and ministries there, and courts of justice, higher and lower, and also trades and employments.”

[4] When the three newcomers heard that there are higher and lower courts of justice in heaven, they said, “Why do they have them? Are not all in heaven inspired and led by God? And do they not therefore know what is just and right? What need for judges then?”

The elder man replied, “In this world we are instructed and learn what is good and true, and what is just and equitable, in like manner as in the natural world; and we learn it not immediately from God, but mediately through others. And every angel, just as every man, thinks truth and does good as if of himself, and this, according to the state of the angel, is mixed and not pure. There are also among the angels the simple and the wise, and the wise must judge, when the simple from simplicity and ignorance are in doubt about what is just or swerve from it. But as you have newly come into this world, if it is your pleasure, follow me into our city and we will show you everything.'

[5] And they left the auditorium, and some of the elders also accompanied them. They went first into a great library, which was divided into smaller libraries, according to the sciences. The three new-comers were amazed at seeing so many books, and said:

“There are also books in this world! Where are the parchments and the paper from? Where [do you get] the pens and ink?”

To this the elder replied, “All things here are substantial, not material; and material things derive their origin from the substantial. We who are here are spiritual men because [we are] substantial and not material. This is why all things that are in the natural world are here in their perfection, even books and writings and many more things.”

When the three newcomers heard the things called substantial, they believed that they were so, both because they saw the written books, and because they heard the statement that material things originate from things substantial. That they might be still further assured, they were taken to the dwellings of the scribes who were making copies of the original writings of the wise men of the city. And they inspected the writings and admired their neatness and elegance.

[6] After this they were conducted to museums, gymnasiums, and colleges, and to where their literary sports were held.... The so- called sports were spiritual exercises and trials of skill. Afterwards they were conducted around the city, to the rulers, the administrators, and their subordinate officers, and by them to the wonderful productions that are made by artisans in a spiritual manner.

[7] After seeing all these things, the elder spoke with them again of the eternal rest from labor into which the blessed and happy come after death, and said:

“Eternal rest is not inactivity; for from inactivity come languor, torpidity, stupor, and drowsiness of the mind and thence of the whole body, and these are death not life, still less the eternal life in which the angels of heaven are. Eternal rest, then, is rest that dispels [states] these and makes man live; and this is no other rest than such as elevates the mind. It is, therefore, some study and work by which the mind is aroused, enlivened, and delighted; and this takes place according to the use from which, in which, and for which [the mind] is working. Hence it is that the whole heaven is seen by the Lord as containing uses, and every angel is an angel according to his use. The enjoyment of use carries him along as a favoring current does a ship, and causes him to be in eternal peace, and in the rest of peace. This is meant by eternal rest from labors. That an angel is alive according to the eagerness of his mind from use, is very plain from the fact that every angel has conjugial love, with its virtue, its potency, and its delights, according to his eager application to the genuine use in which he is.'

[8] When the three newcomers were well assured that eternal rest is not idleness, but the enjoyment of some work that is of use, a number of virgins came with pieces of embroidery and sewing, the work of their own hands, and gave these to them. And as the newcomer spirits departed, the virgins sang a song, by which, in angelic melody, they expressed the affection of the works of use with its pleasures.

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